Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-12
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from the French
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.
BY OLIVE HARPER.
CHAPTER II.

busy, but soon Suzanne began to have little
more time, which she occupied III riding about
the pleasant neishbork,oI, sketching and
gathering the wild flowers and ferns that
that grew so bountiiu,ly i'll every direction.
One morning she started early with her
sketching implements to visit an old abbey,
which had many historic recoiie'tons, and
reached there about o'clock, AMI gave her
horse III charge ni the guard, who had litti1
cottage near by. This abbey was considered
a fine piece Of architecture and was ktpt ia
repair by the care of Baroness Nathaniel
Dc Rothschild, 10 whom 1t beton ed
Suzanne went 10 work diligently ami
painted continually ml abont noon, trans
ferring the scene to her 'anvass with much
effect Then she suddenly discovered that
she was both hungry AMI thirsty. Il will 80
and get drink Perhaps that is all | want,
after all"
She returned to the keepers house, and
there the keepers wife, buxom, handsome
young woman offered Suzanne some lunch,
and as she sat at the snowy table young
man in hunters costume entered the door
with his gun and game bag, followed by
magnificent hunting dog,
He bowed profoundly without speaking,
and the keepers wife pleasantly, if somewhat
awkwardly, presented hi'n, saving:
'Mademoiselle, do not lie afraid This is
gentle youth, n Pierre De Noiryille, who has
permission to shoot in the park he lives
near here with hi mother and elder brother.
When he hunts he always comes here for his
lunch
Suzanne replied to his profound bow BY a
few words and hastenes her own lunch, that
he might have his, ss She had no mind to sit
at table with him, although he was very
handsome, with something foreign in the
peculiar shape of his eyes and his complexion.
Ho looked more like an Oriental than French.
Suzanne excused herself and returned to
her work, telling the keepers wife to have
her horse ready in an hour
When she went out Pierre followed her
with his eyes and he piled the good natured
Catharine with questions as to the beautiful
young Mss Forney, who did not act so
frightened as do all Young French girls when
they happen to meet Young man He ad-
mired her sweet but sober dignity and her
evident self possession, and in fact he waxed
exceedingly enthusiastic. Pierre fingered
long over his omelet and fresh bread, coffee
dhu NicAAi thrtSc, M hpl'CS vi tlo
young lady ngain, hut at last with a heavy
sigh took his departure.
Suzanne worked until she had finished what
she wished TO do and then returned to the
cottage, and giving Catbarine her implements
and half finished sketch said If shall be
here early tomorrow morning. and try to
finish it, and then she rode off rapidly At
the moment she was about to leave the park
she made a gesture of vexation and annoy
ance as she saw Pierre De Noirville standing
immovable as statue and gazing at her with
earnest admiration.
Then Pierre, angry with himself, turned
abruptly and shamefaeediy toward his home,
the Merldon farm, which was TO be seen from
the gate of the park
Meridon farm was situated at about six
miles from the White House and consisted of
200 or 800 acres, through which ran the
Yvette river, and here lived Julia De Noir-
vile with her two sons, Raymond and Pierre.
This farm was all that they had to depend
upon, for Lucien's death left them but illy
provided tor, until Luciens uncle had died,
bequeathing this property to the two
brothers. Pierre managed the farm while
Raymond was preparing himself for the law
in Paris.
Julia had greatly changed during these ten
years which followed the condemnation for
life to the man she loved and the death OF her
husband. Remorse had aged her, and. al
though she was but A., she was bent and
withered and had the appearance of an old
woman There was not a day passed nor
night in which she did not seem to see two
phantoms-the one whom she had sent to
prison and death, the other her good and gen
tie husband, dead in his friends defense.
Her life since then had been one poignant
regret Had it not been for her two SONS she
would certainly have divulsed her part in
this horrible crime; but to clear Rogers
name she must blight those of her two sons
And she thought Roger was dead, as he was
reported to have been killed in an attempt at
escape.
Raymond WAS % years old and Pierre "a
Raymond was small, pale and of nervous
temperament, with his fathers soulful eyes;
while Pierre was large, robust and dark
Both We're handsome.
Though living in Paris Raymond came
often to the farm. always Sundays, and as
often as his duties and studies permitted him
during the week.
The two brothers loved their mother ten
DERBY, and respected her babitual sadness as
the natural result Of the loss of her husband
in so tragic & manner. They believed that
she could never he consoled for that breave-
ment.
That evening Raymond returned from
Paris, and seeing the game bag he remarked
TO Pierre:
off it is pleasant tomorrow I will hunt with
Won"
Pierre did not answer If Raymond had
noticed his brothers face then be would have
seen a look of annoyance pass over it.
The next morning the sun shone bright and
the two brothers went out with their guns,
and for a long time kept together, us they had
but one dog, but at last Raymond found him
self alone, and us he was Il little tired he de-
cided to go on to the keepers cottage and
wait there for Pierre who would bs sure to
come there for his lunch But as he passed
along by the ruins he noticed outlined against
the sky the figure of a beautiful young girl
standing on a wall, winch was so old that it
was a wonder il. had stood so long.
He was so surprised by this unexpected
vision that he forgot where he was or that he
held gun IN his hand when the dog saw g
pheasant and made movement which threw
the butt OF Raymond gun backward against
a tree, and there was sharp report, followed
by a rushing, crumblins noise and a woman's
piercing cry for help.
The young girl on the wall had sprung as
the unexpected shot had resounded. and this
movement started tie insecure wall, which
crumbled beneath her feet and she fell with
and among tie stones some twenty feet. She
screamed again as she fell, and Raymond also
heard another cry, that Of Pierre. He was
too far away himself to receive any injury,
and very pale he was as he rushed forward,
but met Pierre with a deathly white face as
they both reached the inanimate body of the
young stranger lying among the stones and
dust at the same time
"Deadi7 said Pierre, wildly; dead"
@Who is she, do you known
Il saw her yesterday for the first time.r
Suzanne lay upon her back, her arms
stretched out and thin stream of blood
trickled down her pale face from a deep
wound in her forehead Pierre took her in
his strong arms and carried her to the foun-
tain of st. Thebault. There he laid her, with
her head upon messy hank, while Raymond
wet his handkerchief and made compress,
laying it over the bleeding wound. which
was deep and severe Then he bathed her
hands, her face and eyes
"How beautiful she isl" said Raymond.
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